MQM factions mend fences for Senate polls

ISLAMABAD: Both factions of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) just a day before the Senate elections, which is scheduled to be held today (Saturday), announced to unite for the Senate polls and announced their joint candidates.

In a joint press conference here on Friday at the National Press Club, the MQM-P (PIB Colony) leader Dr Farooq Sattar and MQM-P (Bahadurabad) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui announced the names of Barrister Farogh Naseem and Kamran Khan Tessori for the general seats, Abdul Qadir Khanzada for the technocrat seat, Dr Nighat Shakeel for the women's seat and Sanjay Perwani for the minorities seat.

Though there was a consensus on four seats -- Barrister Farogh Naseem for general seat, Abdul Qadir Khanzada for technocrat seat, Dr Nighat Shakeel for the women's seat and Sanjay Perwani for the minorities seat -- yet on the name of Kamran Tessori, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui declared him as the candidate of Dr Farooq Sattar.

Addressing the press conference, Farooq Sattar said even while differences were evident in their statements, both factions were mediating in the background but at the same time there was direct contact and mediators were trying to resolve the matter.

Farooq Sattar said that though there were still differences on certain matters, yet they have tried to bring unity on one issue to save the party from being divided in the Senate elections. “At least one matter brought unity among us, which is regarding the nomination of candidates for Senate elections,” he said.

Farooq Sattar said Senate elections was the first step of reconciliation between the PIB and Bahadurabad groups and the next step would be ending the differences over Rabita Committee.

Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui clarified that his faction's candidate was Dr Farogh Naseem and Kamran Tessori was Dr Farooq Sattar's candidate, while there was a consensus on women and technocrats seats. Farooq Sattar responded that the name of Kamran Tessori was nominated by 35 members of Rabita Committee and he was not alone to nominate Kamran Tessori.

Earlier, the MQM-P extended support to the PML-N-backed independent candidate Mushahid Hussain Sayed for the seat of technocrat from Islamabad in the Senate elections. A PML-N delegation comprising Mushahid Hussain and Minister for Climate Change Senator Mushahidullah visited Farooq Sattar for seeking support for Senate elections.

In a press talk after the meeting, Farooq Sattar in a lighter mood said, “The vote should be vote. There should be no note with vote.” “Since he (Mushahid) is an independent, he might join the MQM after winning,” he said. Continuing with lighter mood, Farooq Sattar said, “We are not supporting him because he is overseeing CPEC.”

He stressed that Mushahid would listen to the MQM-P's observations on CPEC and work towards making it a truly national project. He added that he would make a new chapter of the party and call it MQM-Pakistan-PML-N chapter which would be headed by Mushahid.